Best Large Grants for Nonprofit Organizations in California

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

David R. Miller and Sara G. Miller Scholarship Fund

The David R. Miller and Sara G. Miller Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for first year college students from Western Pennsylvania pursuing courses of study in engineering or manufacturing, or related trades.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

David & Priscilla Morris Scholarship

The David and Priscilla Morris Scholarship was established to provide tuition support for Black or African American students attending Western Michigan University.

KZCF scholarships may be applied to any items under your school’s cost of attendance (COA). Each school has a different COA that may include items such as tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, health insurance, etc. Scholarship payments are sent directly to your institution.

This scholarship is a one-time award, meaning that it will not repeat in subsequent years. The money awarded can be applied to your education costs alongside other scholarships or funding that you may receive, and there are no necessary steps once funds are sent.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Abraham D. Chatman Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

For members and dependent children of members (current and retired) of local unions affiliated with Rochester Regional Joint Board, Workers United.

Number and Size of Awards

Up to five awards of $8,000 each; paid as $2,000 per year for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate study. Award paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Renewability

This scholarship is renewable up to three times for a total of up to four awards in four consecutive years. Award renewability varies per recipient:

• Graduating high school seniors receive awards that are renewable for a total of four awards in four consecutive years;
• College freshman receive awards that are renewable for a total of three awards in three consecutive years;
• College sophomores receive awards that are renewable for a total of two awards in two consecutive years; and

College juniors receive one-time awards that are not renewable.

The Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council Scholarship Fund provides $2,500 for one year to eligible applicants. To qualify, students must have a parent or legal guardian who is a member of one of the 17 unions affiliated with the council and must be graduates of any school within the DSACF service area with a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Preference is given to those pursuing careers in healthcare, but all career paths are encouraged to apply.

The Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award (F99/K00) supports late-stage graduate students from diverse backgrounds in transitioning to postdoctoral positions. This phased award aims to facilitate doctoral dissertation completion and subsequent career development in biomedical research. Participants will engage in mentoring, networking, and professional development activities, preparing them for impactful careers that often require postdoctoral training. Key deadlines for applications span from February 2025 to January 2028.

Scholarships

Grand Haven Area Community Foundation scholarships are awarded competitively based on criteria set by donors. These criteria could include financial need, the school the applicant is attending, academic achievement, as well as personal or career goals. The Community Foundation has a rigorous internal selection process for each scholarship decision, and each applicant is reviewed in depth, and considered thoroughly.

Our scholarship program is simple. You are able to apply once for all foundation scholarships you may be eligible for. Once your application is submitted, you will be eligible for all those for which you meet the requirement.

William D. and Catherine Griffin Fraser Scholarship

In memory of William D. Fraser and Catherine Griffin Fraser. Preference for a graduating senior from Olean High School or Cuba-Rushford Central School, but other graduates from other high schools in Cattaraugus or Allegany counties will be considered; preference for a four-year college, but two-year is eligible; student must be in good academic standing; financial need will be considered; preference for a student interested in a career in the medical field or education, but other majors will be considered. 

The Aman Armaan Ahmed Family SURF for Success Program offers summer undergraduate research fellowships for students from underrepresented groups in biomedical research. Awardees engage in 10 weeks of research related to digestive diseases under expert mentorship, receiving a stipend of $6,200. This initiative aims to inspire students to pursue careers in science and medicine, enhancing diversity in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.

The AAOMR Annual Meeting Poster Awards support graduate students in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology by recognizing outstanding research and clinical posters. Two awards are available annually: one for research and another for clinical topics. Applicants must present their posters to judges, with winners chosen by majority vote. Each awardee receives a $1000 prize and a certificate, announced during the AAOMR Annual Session, encouraging excellence and innovation in the field.

National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana

The National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana provides a network of support and encouragement and promotes an understanding of the real problems of blindness... the attitudes and misconceptions which we and the general public have about blindness. We believe that with training and opportunity (and these are important) the average blind or visually impaired person can lead a perfectly normal life--not just dream about it.

National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana Scholarships

Each year at its State Convention, the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana (NFBL) awards merit-based scholarships to recognize the achievement of blind scholars. 

Previous winners of NFBL scholarships and others who have applied in the past are encouraged to reapply. 

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type.

Kaitlyn Taylor McDaniel Memorial Foundation Scholarship

The purpose of this Fund is to honor the life of Kaitlyn Taylor McDaniel by providing scholarship(s) who wish to pursue a career in nursing or nursing students already enrolled in a program. The Fund will also make grants from time to time to charities or for projects that would have been important to Kaitlyn.

What We Do

At the North Carolina Community Foundation, we bring together generous people and connect them to causes and organizations they care about.

Our mission is to inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.

Our Philanthropic Network

We believe in the power of permanent philanthropy to strengthen our communities and people. By stewarding and growing donors’ gifts, our philanthropic network makes a powerful impact through robust grants and scholarships programs.

Bill Taylor Scholarship Endowment

Criteria

Enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians or their spouses, children or other immediate family members attending a two- or four-year college or university.

The CA$H Theatre Grant, provided by Theatre Bay Area, supports individual artists and small theatre companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. This grant program fosters the development of artistic and capacity-building projects, focusing on those not tied to fully-produced performances. With an emphasis on equity and inclusion, it aids in script development, workshops, and organizational improvement, ensuring a vibrant arts community where diverse voices can thrive.

The Medical Student Research Supplement Award by the Dermatology Foundation supports medical students' research in dermatology, encouraging diversity and inclusion. This award offers $5,000 for direct research expenses, fostering the involvement of full-time students from underrepresented backgrounds. Eligible applicants must be current or former DF career development awardees and must recruit medical students pursuing MD or DO degrees who meet specific academic criteria. The award enhances research participation and strengthens the academic workforce in dermatology.

The NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) aims to enhance the careers of clinical scientists committed to cancer research. This NIH-supported program provides protected time for research and encourages underrepresented individuals in health-related sciences. With deadlines spanning from 2025 to 2027, the program focuses on training and developing the skills necessary to compete for significant research funding and address health disparities in cancer research.

National Federation of the Blind

Founded in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind persons in the United States. With fifty thousand members, the NFB has affiliates in all fifty states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, and over seven hundred local chapters. As a consumer and advocacy organization, the NFB is considered the leading force in the blindness field today.

The goals of the NFB are to ensure opportunity, security and equality for all blind citizens. The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is two-fold—to help blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect and to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind.

Members of the NFB strive to educate the public that the blind are normal individuals who can compete on terms of equality with our sighted peers.

The NFB has created a wide array of services to blind and visually impaired persons of all ages. We provide public education about blindness, information and referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness, aids and appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind.

National Federation of the Blind of Idaho (NFBI) Scholarship

The National Federation of the Blind of Idaho (NFBI), awards merit-based scholarships to blind/visually impaired, functionally blind, high school seniors or college students annually. 

There will be three (3) merit-based scholarships in the amount of $3,000 awarded at the state convention of the NFBI in Boise Idaho. Scholarship finalists will have their expenses paid and are required to attend the convention.

Please note, individuals are limited to receiving an NFBI scholarship a maximum of two (2), times.

The Interventions to Reduce Sleep Health Disparities (R01) grant aims to fund non-pharmacological strategies that enhance sleep health and address disparities in sleep among affected populations. The program emphasizes innovative approaches to examine sleep as a crucial element in mitigating health disparities across various health outcomes. Deadlines for applications range from February 2025 to June 2027, supporting both standard and renewal submissions under the National Institutes of Health.

Community Foundation of Randolph County

Our mission is to bring people and resources together to strengthen the quality of life, both now and in the future, for the residents of Randolph County.

The Community Foundation’s work falls into three major categories: grant-making, donor service, and community convening. Our most visible activities are the grants and scholarships we award each year. Most of these awards come from income earned from permanently endowed funds. Scholarships and other grants come from funds that donors have established for specific purposes.

Environmental Education Scholarship

This fund was set up by the Randolph County Recycling District. The district was established in 1996, dedicated to helping our community reduce waste, reuse creatively, recycle right, respect the earth and rethink sustainability through community outreach and environmental education programs. The fund held at CFRC was created in 2004 to help further their mission by establishing a scholarship for Randolph County seniors who are committed to environmental conservation and aspire to careers that will contribute to the preservation and restoration of the environment.

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type.

The Margaret Taylor Kiracofe Memorial Scholarship

The Margaret T. Kiracofe Scholarship Fund was created to honor Mrs. Kiracofe, an outstanding teacher. The majority of her career was spent in elementary schools. She had the ability to excite and inspire learning by engaging students in creative projects. As someone who worked to put herself through college, Margy’s friends and colleagues felt a scholarship would be the best way to honor her legacy.

$1,000.00 Scholarship for any Carroll County High School Student who plans to study Elementary Education.

Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship

Established by Steven and Donna Teuscher in memory of their son, Jonathan, this scholarship is awarded to a graduate who has faced challenges while maintaining a positive attitude. Scholarship awards area available to graduating seniors from each of the following high schools: Allegany-Limestone, Hinsdale Central, Olean High and Portville Central schools.

The NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Non-Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K22) supports early-career independent researchers to transition from postdoctoral positions to assistant professor roles. This award aims to enhance diversity in the biomedical workforce, offering funding opportunities for innovative research projects. Key application deadlines span from February 2025 to October 2027. The program is funded by the US Department of Health & Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Laurie Anzivine Memorial Scholarship

First preference for a graduating high school senior from any high school in Cattaraugus County, second preference for a graduating senior from any high school within a 30-mile radius of Olean, NY, who will be attending a four-year college and who has had an immediate family member or guardian who has gone through cancer treatment. The student must be in good academic standing. Financial need is not a factor. The applicant must submit an essay of no more than 350 words explaining what the student learned from his/her family member or guardian who struggled with cancer and the impact it left on him/her and what advice the student would give to someone else who may face the same situation.

Strubhar Family Scholarship (Piedmont)

Provides a scholarship for a Piedmont high school graduating senior who will study education or law with a GPA of 3.0 and attending a two- or four-year college or university.

PPSEF Student Scholarship (Piedmont)

Provides a scholarship to a Piedmont graduating senior.

The NIH Career Transition Award (K22) supports exceptional basic and clinical investigators in developing independent research skills through a two-phase program: an intramural appointment at NIH followed by support at an extramural institution. This award specifically aids NINDS intramural neurologist and neurosurgeon scientists in transitioning to independent academic faculty roles, fostering the engagement of clinician-scientists in both funded scientific research and clinical practices.

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Perry Township School Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Perry Township School Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist high school graduates or high school seniors who have permanent residency in Perry Township in Carroll County, Ohio or who had a permanent residence on the date they began their post high school education. Applicants must have been accepted at and are planning to enroll, or are currently enrolled, at an accredited college, university, or technical school with at least a two-year course of study to pursue further education.

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500.

Renewable:

• Yes

The Wilson Rawls Scholarship, offered by The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, supports literary-minded students graduating from local high schools. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities for students from Edgerton, Evansville, Hillcrest, Idaho Falls, Janesville, and Skyline High Schools. With a commitment to fostering talent in the arts, the scholarship enables recipients to pursue their academic goals at four-year colleges or universities, promoting the growth of creativity and literature in the community.